Before heading to school, Sihyun meticulously checked his luggage and dressed in his uniform, gazing at his reflection in the mirror. Just yesterday, everything felt unfamiliar and daunting, but today, he didn't seem entirely displeased with his appearance.
At least, that's what he wanted to think.
As he opened the door and pulled his suitcase out, unlike yesterday, the parents of Kang Sihyun, waiting at the door, came into view. Their eyes met. It was the first time since the merging that he properly faced them.
His breath caught as Kang Sihyun's mother clenched her fist around her chest. Meeting her wavering gaze and then glancing at Kang Sihyun's father, Sihyun swallowed a slow breath, his eyes fixated on their dark, downward gaze.
People change. People can change.
He wasn't alone in this.
"...I'll be back."
Those words, uttered after contemplation, made Sihyun's mother, who had been looking at the floor, raise her head. Meeting her gaze and hesitatingly smiling, Sihyun managed a faint smile, just a slight lift at the corners of his mouth.
It was too much to call them mother or father. Perhaps it would be a lifelong challenge. Considering this was the best he could do for now, Sihyun quietly observed Kang Sihyun's parents. Startled, the two of them vaguely smiled.
"...Take care."
A trembling voice bid him farewell. With that, Sihyun turned toward the outside. He felt their gazes on his back until the door shut behind him.
Only after the door closed did the eye contact break. Slightly unsettled, Sihyun sealed his lips in response to the faint unease he felt.
For now, this would have to do.
But it wasn't the end of what he'd have to face.
Being scared of crossing the first hurdle, Sihyun faced the second as soon as he stepped out of the house, seeing brown hair that caught his eye.
"...."
Their gazes met, and silence lingered. Daun didn't threaten like before, and Sihyun didn't flee like he had.
As they exchanged glances, Sihyun, holding onto the handle of his suitcase, bit his lip.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Whether it was a request or an offer, his steps halted at the uncertain tone. He had thought he murmured it softly, but Daun's ears seemed brighter than he had anticipated.
Daun turned his head. As Sihyun swallowed nervously, looking at the brown eyes shining in the sunlight beneath the sparkling hair, Daun seemed to be evaluating him. Sihyun gripped the handle of his suitcase tighter.
He still remembered the Daun from yesterday.
Should he be angry? Or happy? If asked why he had avoided him until now, what should Sihyun say?
The bond between Daun and Sihyun wasn't built by "Kang Sihyun" but by "Yoo Sihyun" and "Jeong Daun." It felt incredibly awkward, so Sihyun blinked, waiting for Daun's response, but Daun merely chewed his lips.
"You're not coming?"
At the voice that came a while later, Sihyun, seeing a flicker in Daun's eyes, took a slow step forward. Looking at Daun, who seemed somewhat pleased or maybe just indifferent, Sihyun wondered.
"Satisfied?"
Thinking of someone whose laughter was so bright, Sihyun glanced at Daun. Just like with Kang Sihyun's parents, being the present Sihyun, this was the best he could manage.
The dream-like, peaceful time spent together ended on the way to school with Daun. Near his house, it was alright, but as they approached the school, Sihyun, feeling the attention shift towards them, narrowed his eyes at the distant sound of chatter.
"What's up? Aren't they the ones from the test yesterday?"
"Them?"
"One's an A-grade, and the other's a New Class. Yesterday, the Supreme Kings were making a fuss about that New Class. Why are they coming together?"
"Are they dating?"
At the murmured voices, Sihyun hesitated in his steps. He had been so focused on "Kang Sihyun" that he momentarily forgot Daun was the female lead.
Would it be necessary to feed them information when they seemed busy chatting among themselves?
Exhaustion washed over him. Suddenly, while silently hoping for his partner, Haru, to appear, Sihyun, who was swallowing back that thought, saw Daun, who had been silently watching that Sihyun, turn his head towards the girls who had been talking earlier.
"...Hmph."
The girls who met Daun's gaze seemed taken aback and giggled. Only then did the conversation cease, and a satisfied Daun, tugging Sihyun along, passed through the school gates.
He had only found out about the classes; he hadn't heard the class allocations yet. Hence, the students dragging their luggage were heading back to the auditorium. For the second consecutive day, the school seemed obsessed with the auditorium. Feeling more comfortable in a smaller, cozier class, Sihyun, who had arrived earlier than yesterday, settled near the front of the auditorium after glancing around. He was looking for Haru.
"Daun!"
"Oh, Jihye."
In the midst of diligently searching for Haru, Daun came into view, engaged in a lively conversation with a short-haired girl. She was the one who had helped Daun yesterday.
"Partner."
Quietly gazing at the girl, Daun explained the relationship between her and the girl, who held hands. Sihyun tilted his head at those words. It seemed he was going to be the protagonist's close friend that appears in every story.
"Did you two make up?"
To the girl named Ji-hye's question, Daun fell silent. Not understanding the question in English, he grinned, but suddenly, amidst the crowd in the auditorium, a boy struggling emerged in Sihyun's sight. A boy with black, unkempt hair that reached his shoulders. He was the one Sihyun was looking for.
"Just a moment."
Seeking permission, Sihyun left his place and, amidst the bustling crowd, made his way towards Haru, who was clearly distressed.
Why did it have to be right in the midst of the largest gathering? Amidst the bustling crowd, Sihyun cut through to reach Haru, grabbing his slender wrist.
"...!"
Haru was taken aback by the sudden grasp on his wrist. Sihyun pulled him out, showing his face as if to assure him.
"Haru, hyung."
"Ah..."
After calling his name kindly, Haru looked at Sihyun. His eyes were still hidden behind his bangs.
"Do you even see where you're going like that? Wearing glasses doesn't seem to make much sense."
"Ah..."
As Sihyun looked at his long bangs, Haru, while speaking, adjusted his hair. He asked him to raise his head from habit, and finally, Haru did so slowly.
"Well, that's..."
Ah, struggling with his lips as if feeling awkward, he lowered his head again. The road ahead seemed distant, very distant.
Sihyun thought he needed to teach him how to speak without stuttering.
He pondered when he could teach him as he brought Haru to where Daun was, and Daun, looking at Sihyun as if asking for an explanation, shrugged in response.
"My partner."
"..."
It was the same explanation Daun had given a while ago. Haru's wrist, which had been held tightly by Sihyun, trembled beneath the explanation. It was then that Sihyun realized he was still holding onto Haru's wrist and let it go.
"Ah..."
It was already the third time today that Haru's voice flowed out. Turning his head to check Haru's state due to the sigh-like sound, the auditorium became noisy with exclamations.
"They're at it again."
Daun, looking at the shouting students with an expression of annoyance, furrowed his brows in incomprehension. Jung Daun, the protagonist who didn't even flinch at the sight of the Four Heavenly Kings. Daun agreed with that and glanced at the entrance, where people with various hair colors were entering.
Wherever he went, the appearance of Jung Daun, who drew attention, was evident.
As if entering an idol concert hall, Sihyun looked uncomfortable, pressing his ear with one hand and glancing at the entrance where Jung Daun was entering. When he entered the auditorium, his platinum-colored eyes naturally met Sihyun's.
It hadn't been even 2 seconds since he entered the auditorium.
Feeling dazed, Sihyun blinked at the platinum-colored eyes that immediately locked onto him as if equipped with a radar. Was it an illusion, thinking they were so precisely focused on him? It felt that way.
Seowoo smiled, a small curl forming at the corner of her eye. He felt he might need to reset the idea that Seowoo was from Mongolia. Sihyun quickly diverted his gaze from Seowoo. There was nothing good about staring for too long. Yesterday was chaotic because of forming partnerships, but today, even though the partnerships were formed, there was nothing to grab attention.
Not wanting to get involved in unnecessary chaos, he looked at Haru. The black hair and unseen pupils brought a sense of tranquility to Sihyun's mind. He seemed like someone who wouldn't stand out no matter where he was placed. Despite his fairly intimidating class, he was surprisingly pure and innocent. Like a child of seven or eight.
Yeah, comparing him to a dog was too much.
Sometimes, he thought Haru resembled a large dog, but upon this reflection, Sihyun looked at the somewhat pitiful eighteen-year-old.
Regardless of the life he had lived, he was inexperienced in human relationships. He didn't draw attention like the Four Heavenly Kings. And above all, he was the person I personally brought to sit beside me.
An connection I wanted to forge with my own hands in a completely unfamiliar place. With this fact alone, Sihyun felt a strong sense of responsibility. He swallowed hard. If only Haru could thrive even just a bit in this situation.
I'll do my best to help you flourish.
"So, I have to make you flourish."
"Huh?"
Haru was puzzled by Sihyun's abrupt and disjointed words. Sihyun held Haru's hand as if making a vow and gazed at his round glasses.
"Hyung, I'll make you into a person."
He intended to help him speak fluently and grow without being ignored. Though their classes might not match, if there were those who ignored him based on appearances, he had plans to take care of that.
Holding Haru's hand firmly and planning childcare strategies, Sihyun realized that Haru's head had dropped down again, seemingly refusing to lift it despite having asked him to raise it just a while ago.
The beginning was tough and awkward; undoubtedly, his plan for successful childcare seemed distant and uncertain.
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For $5
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- Your name will be featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
For $10
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- You get access to Digital art.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
For $20
- You get to recommend a Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
